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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
Werner Herzog is an accomplished documentary film maker as his record goes to prove, and this fascinating film is no exception. Whilst it is perhaps not as powerful as his beautiful experiment "Fata Morgana", or as involving as his more recent "Encounters at the End of the World", it contains moments of sublime beauty that take the breath away, most memorable being a sequence that may just be one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen on film. The return at sunrise of the myriads of white tipped swifts to their roost in an inaccessible cave behind the majestic Kaieteur Falls in the jungles of Guyana must be one of natures great marvels. Watching these amazing little aeronauts swooping in their thousands behind the thundering falls is reason enough to buy the DVD.
Herzog follows British aeronautical engineer Graham Dorrinton as he attempts to fly his experimental airship the White Diamond above the 'Aguirre' like forest canopy in Guyana. But being a film by Maurice Herzog it is not simply a story about one mans dream. It looks at mans place in the natural world and also pays homage to the respected German wildlife cinematographer Dieter Plage who died in the forests of Sumatra whilst using one of Dorrington's airships. Typically Herzog's camera manages to find some quirky locals. One young cook struts his stuff with some pretty decent moon walking on the very edge of the falls. Accompanying the feast of visual delights is some impressive music by Dutch cellist and composer Ernst Reijseger. Herzog's eclectic good taste in music has always been a welcome adornment to his films. I see that Reijseger has also composed the music for Herzog's latest documentary "Cave of Forgotten Dreams", which I am waiting eagerly to watch. If it is as good as this and his other documentary offerings then I shall not be disappointed.
Herzog follows British aeronautical engineer Graham Dorrinton as he attempts to fly his experimental airship the White Diamond above the 'Aguirre' like forest canopy in Guyana. But being a film by Maurice Herzog it is not simply a story about one mans dream. It looks at mans place in the natural world and also pays homage to the respected German wildlife cinematographer Dieter Plage who died in the forests of Sumatra whilst using one of Dorrington's airships. Typically Herzog's camera manages to find some quirky locals. One young cook struts his stuff with some pretty decent moon walking on the very edge of the falls. Accompanying the feast of visual delights is some impressive music by Dutch cellist and composer Ernst Reijseger. Herzog's eclectic good taste in music has always been a welcome adornment to his films. I see that Reijseger has also composed the music for Herzog's latest documentary "Cave of Forgotten Dreams", which I am waiting eagerly to watch. If it is as good as this and his other documentary offerings then I shall not be disappointed.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was disappointed by the scarseness of aerial shots from the airship which give a sense of what the subject wanted to achieve. I was left leaving it was an anticlimax. The supporting story, background and the ther characters they come across is more interesting than the white diamond itself, and if it weren't for the ever present gigantic waterfall and the flaura and fauna surrounding it, then it might have been a little bit boring, but that 's just me. The blu ray does do justice to the panoramic shots, so I'm glad I got this on high definition.
Werner Herzog is mesmerising as always with his narration.
Werner Herzog is mesmerising as always with his narration.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Beginning with some great film footage of the early age of flight, including the explosion of the Hindenburg Zeppelin, this documentary then turns to modern day airship fanatic Dr. Graham Dorrington. It gradually emerges that Dorrington's friend Dieter Plage was killed flying a similar airship ten years earlier, and it is clear that Dorrington feels a certain degree of guilt over the death. Despite this, he persists in his quest to fly an airship over remote jungle in Guyana. The airship itself has a bit of a 'steampunk' look about it, and reminds me of Lee Scoresby's balloon in 'The Golden Compass'. With the help of this contraption, Dorrington aims to film the rainforest canopy - one the richest biospheres on earth.
The human element in this film is not so intense as with other Herzog documentaries, yet it does contain some amazing cinematography, such as the swifts flying madly into a waterfall, their secret kingdom. Perhaps the film would have been better if cut in length (it's not often you can say that about a Herzog film), or perhaps more footage of the rainforest canopy and less of the crew arguing. It's still worth watching, however.
The human element in this film is not so intense as with other Herzog documentaries, yet it does contain some amazing cinematography, such as the swifts flying madly into a waterfall, their secret kingdom. Perhaps the film would have been better if cut in length (it's not often you can say that about a Herzog film), or perhaps more footage of the rainforest canopy and less of the crew arguing. It's still worth watching, however.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Above average docu-drama
The name Werner Herzog led me to expect fine solid entertainment from this DVD docu-drama, and I was certainly
not disappointed. Read more
not disappointed. Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2010 by Mr. Maurice E. Taggart
Awsome "White Diamond"
If you are in the mood for a serious documentary that will put you into a different world for a while, watch this DVD. It is a really nice experience for a thinking person.
Published on 20 Jan 2006 by Eric Gemballa
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